Parents reject State schools (WA)
Jan 7th 2004, 2:02 am
#1
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Location: Back in UK
Posts: 750
Parents reject State schools (WA)
ENROLMENTS at WA private schools have boomed in the past decade as parents turn their backs on the public education system. While the number of children at government schools has declined slightly, non-government schools have enjoyed a surge of popularity which has resulted in student numbers increasing about a third.
And it is not the elite schools which are snaring the students. The fastest-growing are modern, religious schools which aim squarely at middle-class families with fees of between $2000 and $8000 a year, well below the $11,000-plus fees at Perth's most exclusive private schools.
Schools which experienced the biggest jumps in student population in the eight years to 2003 include Geraldton Grammar, Strathalbyn Christian College, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and St Stephen's School, all of which have more than doubled their student numbers.
In contrast, most of Perth's top schools experienced only small increases in student numbers and some, including Guildford Grammar and St Hilda's, had a slight decline.
Greens education spokeswoman Dr Chrissy Sharp said the trend indicated the Federal Government needed to spend more money on public schools. "The trend to shift from public to private education is even higher in WA than the national trend," she said.
Dr Sharp said she was appalled that two-thirds of Federal education funding was directed at the one-third of Australian children who attended private schools.
Acting Education and Training Minister Bob Kucera said the Gallop Government had recognised that the drift of students from government schools was an issue and had put in place policies to deal with it, including employing hundreds of specialist teachers, increased maintenance funding and better literacy and numeracy strategies. He pointed out that public school enrolments had started to lift for the first time in five years.
Edith Cowan University Professor of Education Max Angus said a drift from public schools to private had started in the 1970s, when the Federal Government began giving more money to smaller non-government schools.
The trend also showed parents were becoming more choosy. Professor Angus said many parents were no longer willing to settle for the State school in their suburb, perhaps choosing a private school with moderate fees or even moving suburbs so their children could attend a government school with a good reputation.
And it is not the elite schools which are snaring the students. The fastest-growing are modern, religious schools which aim squarely at middle-class families with fees of between $2000 and $8000 a year, well below the $11,000-plus fees at Perth's most exclusive private schools.
Schools which experienced the biggest jumps in student population in the eight years to 2003 include Geraldton Grammar, Strathalbyn Christian College, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and St Stephen's School, all of which have more than doubled their student numbers.
In contrast, most of Perth's top schools experienced only small increases in student numbers and some, including Guildford Grammar and St Hilda's, had a slight decline.
Greens education spokeswoman Dr Chrissy Sharp said the trend indicated the Federal Government needed to spend more money on public schools. "The trend to shift from public to private education is even higher in WA than the national trend," she said.
Dr Sharp said she was appalled that two-thirds of Federal education funding was directed at the one-third of Australian children who attended private schools.
Acting Education and Training Minister Bob Kucera said the Gallop Government had recognised that the drift of students from government schools was an issue and had put in place policies to deal with it, including employing hundreds of specialist teachers, increased maintenance funding and better literacy and numeracy strategies. He pointed out that public school enrolments had started to lift for the first time in five years.
Edith Cowan University Professor of Education Max Angus said a drift from public schools to private had started in the 1970s, when the Federal Government began giving more money to smaller non-government schools.
The trend also showed parents were becoming more choosy. Professor Angus said many parents were no longer willing to settle for the State school in their suburb, perhaps choosing a private school with moderate fees or even moving suburbs so their children could attend a government school with a good reputation.
Jan 7th 2004, 10:49 am
#2
(It's not my real name)
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Ilukapool. WA
Posts: 12,467
Re: Parents reject State schools (WA)
Originally posted by Jirrupin
ENROLMENTS at WA private schools have boomed in the past decade as parents turn their backs on the public education system. While the number of children at government schools has declined slightly, non-government schools have enjoyed a surge of popularity which has resulted in student numbers increasing about a third.
And it is not the elite schools which are snaring the students. The fastest-growing are modern, religious schools which aim squarely at middle-class families with fees of between $2000 and $8000 a year, well below the $11,000-plus fees at Perth's most exclusive private schools.
Schools which experienced the biggest jumps in student population in the eight years to 2003 include Geraldton Grammar, Strathalbyn Christian College, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and St Stephen's School, all of which have more than doubled their student numbers.
In contrast, most of Perth's top schools experienced only small increases in student numbers and some, including Guildford Grammar and St Hilda's, had a slight decline.
Greens education spokeswoman Dr Chrissy Sharp said the trend indicated the Federal Government needed to spend more money on public schools. "The trend to shift from public to private education is even higher in WA than the national trend," she said.
Dr Sharp said she was appalled that two-thirds of Federal education funding was directed at the one-third of Australian children who attended private schools.
Acting Education and Training Minister Bob Kucera said the Gallop Government had recognised that the drift of students from government schools was an issue and had put in place policies to deal with it, including employing hundreds of specialist teachers, increased maintenance funding and better literacy and numeracy strategies. He pointed out that public school enrolments had started to lift for the first time in five years.
Edith Cowan University Professor of Education Max Angus said a drift from public schools to private had started in the 1970s, when the Federal Government began giving more money to smaller non-government schools.
The trend also showed parents were becoming more choosy. Professor Angus said many parents were no longer willing to settle for the State school in their suburb, perhaps choosing a private school with moderate fees or even moving suburbs so their children could attend a government school with a good reputation.
ENROLMENTS at WA private schools have boomed in the past decade as parents turn their backs on the public education system. While the number of children at government schools has declined slightly, non-government schools have enjoyed a surge of popularity which has resulted in student numbers increasing about a third.
And it is not the elite schools which are snaring the students. The fastest-growing are modern, religious schools which aim squarely at middle-class families with fees of between $2000 and $8000 a year, well below the $11,000-plus fees at Perth's most exclusive private schools.
Schools which experienced the biggest jumps in student population in the eight years to 2003 include Geraldton Grammar, Strathalbyn Christian College, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and St Stephen's School, all of which have more than doubled their student numbers.
In contrast, most of Perth's top schools experienced only small increases in student numbers and some, including Guildford Grammar and St Hilda's, had a slight decline.
Greens education spokeswoman Dr Chrissy Sharp said the trend indicated the Federal Government needed to spend more money on public schools. "The trend to shift from public to private education is even higher in WA than the national trend," she said.
Dr Sharp said she was appalled that two-thirds of Federal education funding was directed at the one-third of Australian children who attended private schools.
Acting Education and Training Minister Bob Kucera said the Gallop Government had recognised that the drift of students from government schools was an issue and had put in place policies to deal with it, including employing hundreds of specialist teachers, increased maintenance funding and better literacy and numeracy strategies. He pointed out that public school enrolments had started to lift for the first time in five years.
Edith Cowan University Professor of Education Max Angus said a drift from public schools to private had started in the 1970s, when the Federal Government began giving more money to smaller non-government schools.
The trend also showed parents were becoming more choosy. Professor Angus said many parents were no longer willing to settle for the State school in their suburb, perhaps choosing a private school with moderate fees or even moving suburbs so their children could attend a government school with a good reputation.
Jan 7th 2004, 10:49 am
#3
(It's not my real name)
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Ilukapool. WA
Posts: 12,467
Re: Parents reject State schools (WA)
Originally posted by Jirrupin
ENROLMENTS at WA private schools have boomed in the past decade as parents turn their backs on the public education system. While the number of children at government schools has declined slightly, non-government schools have enjoyed a surge of popularity which has resulted in student numbers increasing about a third.
And it is not the elite schools which are snaring the students. The fastest-growing are modern, religious schools which aim squarely at middle-class families with fees of between $2000 and $8000 a year, well below the $11,000-plus fees at Perth's most exclusive private schools.
Schools which experienced the biggest jumps in student population in the eight years to 2003 include Geraldton Grammar, Strathalbyn Christian College, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and St Stephen's School, all of which have more than doubled their student numbers.
In contrast, most of Perth's top schools experienced only small increases in student numbers and some, including Guildford Grammar and St Hilda's, had a slight decline.
Greens education spokeswoman Dr Chrissy Sharp said the trend indicated the Federal Government needed to spend more money on public schools. "The trend to shift from public to private education is even higher in WA than the national trend," she said.
Dr Sharp said she was appalled that two-thirds of Federal education funding was directed at the one-third of Australian children who attended private schools.
Acting Education and Training Minister Bob Kucera said the Gallop Government had recognised that the drift of students from government schools was an issue and had put in place policies to deal with it, including employing hundreds of specialist teachers, increased maintenance funding and better literacy and numeracy strategies. He pointed out that public school enrolments had started to lift for the first time in five years.
Edith Cowan University Professor of Education Max Angus said a drift from public schools to private had started in the 1970s, when the Federal Government began giving more money to smaller non-government schools.
The trend also showed parents were becoming more choosy. Professor Angus said many parents were no longer willing to settle for the State school in their suburb, perhaps choosing a private school with moderate fees or even moving suburbs so their children could attend a government school with a good reputation.
ENROLMENTS at WA private schools have boomed in the past decade as parents turn their backs on the public education system. While the number of children at government schools has declined slightly, non-government schools have enjoyed a surge of popularity which has resulted in student numbers increasing about a third.
And it is not the elite schools which are snaring the students. The fastest-growing are modern, religious schools which aim squarely at middle-class families with fees of between $2000 and $8000 a year, well below the $11,000-plus fees at Perth's most exclusive private schools.
Schools which experienced the biggest jumps in student population in the eight years to 2003 include Geraldton Grammar, Strathalbyn Christian College, Lake Joondalup Baptist College and St Stephen's School, all of which have more than doubled their student numbers.
In contrast, most of Perth's top schools experienced only small increases in student numbers and some, including Guildford Grammar and St Hilda's, had a slight decline.
Greens education spokeswoman Dr Chrissy Sharp said the trend indicated the Federal Government needed to spend more money on public schools. "The trend to shift from public to private education is even higher in WA than the national trend," she said.
Dr Sharp said she was appalled that two-thirds of Federal education funding was directed at the one-third of Australian children who attended private schools.
Acting Education and Training Minister Bob Kucera said the Gallop Government had recognised that the drift of students from government schools was an issue and had put in place policies to deal with it, including employing hundreds of specialist teachers, increased maintenance funding and better literacy and numeracy strategies. He pointed out that public school enrolments had started to lift for the first time in five years.
Edith Cowan University Professor of Education Max Angus said a drift from public schools to private had started in the 1970s, when the Federal Government began giving more money to smaller non-government schools.
The trend also showed parents were becoming more choosy. Professor Angus said many parents were no longer willing to settle for the State school in their suburb, perhaps choosing a private school with moderate fees or even moving suburbs so their children could attend a government school with a good reputation.
Jan 7th 2004, 10:59 am
#4
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: well, i thought it was perth, but apparently not!!
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To be honest, I'm not surprised. I've attended both a state and a private school in my school career and private schools definitely have an edge when it comes to resources.
The downside is that most private schools are obsessed with their public image, have strict dress codes (at my school it bordered on the ridiculous) and I had to wear a crap, uncomfortable uniform
But I suppose it's character building
The downside is that most private schools are obsessed with their public image, have strict dress codes (at my school it bordered on the ridiculous) and I had to wear a crap, uncomfortable uniform
But I suppose it's character building
Jan 7th 2004, 1:11 pm
#5
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Well ours will be going to a state school, i was only to glad to get them out of their Church of England school and away from the god squad attitude that went with it, much as i may want the best education for my children it wont be at a school that classes people by their religeous beiefs.
Lynn
Lynn
Jan 7th 2004, 1:29 pm
#6
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Posts: 93
Originally posted by lynnj
Well ours will be going to a state school, i was only to glad to get them out of their Church of England school and away from the god squad attitude that went with it, much as i may want the best education for my children it wont be at a school that classes people by their religeous beiefs.
Lynn
Well ours will be going to a state school, i was only to glad to get them out of their Church of England school and away from the god squad attitude that went with it, much as i may want the best education for my children it wont be at a school that classes people by their religeous beiefs.
Lynn
Yeah, i was going to say that too, but I couldn't be arsed, just incase I started a religious debate. It was my lame effort at being tactful
St Mary's is the biggest load of steaming crap though everyone. Don't send your daughter (s) there unless you hate them.
Jan 7th 2004, 1:30 pm
#7
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Posts: 618
its quite strange how in the UK there has been a huge rush to get kids into schools that have a religious dimension to them. the reasoning being that kids in these schools tend to do better than normal state comps. funny how the differences are so marked across contintents.
Jan 7th 2004, 1:32 pm
#8
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Originally posted by Fuzzyness
its quite strange how in the UK there has been a huge rush to get kids into schools that have a religious dimension to them. the reasoning being that kids in these schools tend to do better than normal state comps. funny how the differences are so marked across contintents.
its quite strange how in the UK there has been a huge rush to get kids into schools that have a religious dimension to them. the reasoning being that kids in these schools tend to do better than normal state comps. funny how the differences are so marked across contintents.
Last edited by asciidental; Jan 7th 2004 at 1:36 pm.
Jan 7th 2004, 1:37 pm
#9
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Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
We always went to state schools. We turned out fine.
Friends of ours went to a primary school in Hillarys (lymburna??) and Padbury Senior High School.
There parents said that people only send there kids to private schools so they look 'good' amongst other people.
Though they are the types that would go to private, they didn't. They did both do piano lessons though, and she flute and he sax and all kinds of other stuff.
There parents also said people think that private school kids are neater and 'nicer'. Well, no way! they said. You should hear them talking on the bus etc etc.
Teenagers are teenagers anywhere.
Anyway, so there might be a few good points like better resources but I still wouldn't choose for it. (regarding the religious stuff, and just the total poshy stuff.) Don't want my kids being stuck up later either, because they've been to private school with all the other 'rich' kids.
Friends of ours went to a primary school in Hillarys (lymburna??) and Padbury Senior High School.
There parents said that people only send there kids to private schools so they look 'good' amongst other people.
Though they are the types that would go to private, they didn't. They did both do piano lessons though, and she flute and he sax and all kinds of other stuff.
There parents also said people think that private school kids are neater and 'nicer'. Well, no way! they said. You should hear them talking on the bus etc etc.
Teenagers are teenagers anywhere.
Anyway, so there might be a few good points like better resources but I still wouldn't choose for it. (regarding the religious stuff, and just the total poshy stuff.) Don't want my kids being stuck up later either, because they've been to private school with all the other 'rich' kids.
Jan 7th 2004, 1:42 pm
#10
i'm digitalicious
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: well, i thought it was perth, but apparently not!!
Posts: 93
Hehehe. By no means of the imagination could I be called posh
Jan 7th 2004, 2:03 pm
#11
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Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Originally posted by asciidental
Hehehe. By no means of the imagination could I be called posh
Hehehe. By no means of the imagination could I be called posh
But that was also sort of my point.
(sorry, my post was typed a bit quickly, and I didn't really think, though most bits should be about right. Oh well, son't have time to explain probarly right now!)
So did you go to St Mary's.
I think my friend went there. She's 22 now, so don't think you would know her.
I think she got a scholarship for a private school... She's not posh either! I have never had posh friends! She's least poshest I know!
